Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Australian Model Railway Magazine

Fidelity (noun): faithfulness, loyalty, exact correspondence to the original (Concise Oxford Dictionary). The word ‘fidelity’ refers to how faithful a reproduction of something is to the original item. This has application in the hobby of model railways because, whenever we make a judgement about a particular model or layout, what we’re doing is assessing its fidelity compared with our perception of the prototype. I use the word ‘perception’ of the prototype very deliberately because, in my experience, it’s quite rare to have a definitive resolution to a question about some aspect of the prototype’s way of doing things. I doubt many topics have generated more heated debate over the years than the colours applied to various models. While it’s possible that modern scanning and colour reproduction technology have to some…

EXHIBITIONS & EXPOS COWES – VIC. January 16-17, 2021. Phillip Island & District Railway Modellers Exhibition. 10am–5pm (Sat) & 10am–4pm (Sun). Senior Citizens Hall, 6 Lions Court, Cowes. Admission $8 Adults, $5 U/15, $20 Family. Secretary Geoff Bowen, 0429 419 011.piadrm@gmail.com POSTPONED – CORIO – VIC. January 23 – 24, 2021 at the Centenary Hall, Corio. BUNDABERG – QLD. 20-21 March 2021. Model Train & Hobby Expo, Bundaberg Multiplex Sports & Convention Centre. Invitations to exhibitors have been sent. The club will monitor COVID-19 restrictions in the coming months to evaluate impact on 2021 expo.…

Materials To construct, and paint and weather the bridge, you need the following materials: Northeastern Scale Lumber: 4 mm pine timber dowels piles 11"x4"x2"(1pack) handrails 11"x10"x2"(1pack) handrailkickboard 11"x6"x4"(3packs) bridgedeck 11"x8"x4"(1pack) pierbraces 11"x10"x4"(1pack) baseofpier 12" x 12" x 11" (1 pack) main beams Evergreen styrene: No. 291 – 0.060" (1.5 mm) angle handrail support No. 8103 – HO scale 3" x 1" steel strips/struts Detail parts: Tichy Train Group No. 8082 nut-bolt-washer Kadee No. 439 nut-bolt-washer Tools You will also need the following tools: a sharp hobby knife files (small and large) PVA glue with applicator (small tea/coffee stirrer) superglue (a superglue pen by Loctite) foam block/board 50 mm hobby T-pins (approx. 40–45) steel wool (without soap) 400 grit sandpaper toothpick ruler A guillotine cutter for strip wood is optional and…

Australian 3D Printing Models As I sit in front of the computer typing out this letter to the editor of AMRM and thinking about what to do next on my modelling table, a thought came to me about the future of modelling in Australia and where it is heading as more and more people use 3D printers. When they start out modelling, most people have the time but don’t have the money; toward the end of their working life, they have the money but not the time. Every person involved with this hobby has different talents and works hard at improving their weaknesses as they get more involved with modelling. I know of many people who scratch-build, build kits, modify RTR and plonk (straight out of the box). Some of…

This article is on point construction, giving the basic procedures, without bombarding the reader with soldering techniques and basic workshop practice. There are two very good books on point construction (refer to the bibliography) which go to great lengths and into great detail, but these were written as in-depth books. I’ll be describing point construction using printed circuit board (PCB) sleepers, because that is what I use. It is the cheapest of materials and very forgiving of mistakes (just unsolder and redo!). Point construction is not difficult as long as you adhere to standards and measurements, and this is easily attained with the use of gauges and jigs. These can be purchased from various specialist suppliers, model railway societies and even be homemade. There is no better time to start…

The Electric Railways of Victoria, published by the Australian Electric Traction Association in 1979, shows that the Tait carriages were built prior to the electrification of the Victorian Railways (VR) suburban system. Perusal of the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) website reveals a January 1910 photo of DDE 750 with a six-car train of Tait cars prior to conversion to electrification (H 1133). These cars were to become either trailer cars or driving trailers, after electrification had been completed. The website also has photos of 2AP, 1BP and 1ACP as photos H 1207, H 1206 and H 1208. Photo RS 0327 shows a seven-car set in the rose/grey colour scheme. The trains were originally released as six-car sets and, by 1914, the VR expected to require 195 motor cars,…

Most of us, if we have been in the hobby for any length of time, have any number of older models (in my case, some dating back to the early 1980s) that, while not up to current standards, are not so objectionable that they get removed and retired. Every now and then though, one or two come to my attention for various reasons and some upgrading work takes place. Here are the stories of two vehicles that have been long term residents of Lambing Flat that have recently had ‘make overs’. This is an original Stephen Johnson Models epoxy kit of a NSWGR SHG goods brake van. It was constructed (and ‘backdated’ to earlier condition with dogbox doors each side of the guard’s compartment and end windows in the far…

The products covered in the Review pages have been supplied or made available by the manufacturer, producer, importer or retailer listed in each product heading. AMRM welcomes access to new product lines for inclusion in the Review pages and requests items be addressed to the Editor at Australian Model Railway Magazine, PO Box 345, Matraville 2036. Readers are reminded that the prices quoted in the reviews are those applicable at the time of going to press. Those using the prices as a guide to purchasing products by mail order should always add extra for postage, or contact the supplier for the additional cost for mail order. Editor…

We regret to announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Phelps on Monday 28 September 2020; he had been ill for some time and will be missed at the club (AMRA Western Australia). Bob was one of those people who was a font of knowledge, anything from N Scale to the outdoor layouts. His patience was a virtue and scenery was his forte. He was very popular around the club. He had a good knowledge of modelling and, as usual, his voice was a decibel higher than the others around him. He had a fondness for N scale, his scale of choice at home and at the club. His advice was always well received. Our condolences go to his wife Maureen and family.…